When I think of Senator Grace Poe’s chance of winning the coveted top post of the land, I am reminded of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus who once said: “Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop character."
Although I have been unforgivingly critical of her defense of the INC’s mob-rule scheme at the Department of Justice compound, I still wish her success in her life’s pursuit.
I think she has a chance of being a good presidential material in the future if she is willing to learn by herself about something of political importance. That is, if there is one virtue that she must nurture as she considers running for a higher post, she might take to heart Heraclitus’ admonition of patience.
Why patience? Well, for two important lessons. First, she must be humble enough to honestly accept her limited experience and lack of preparation.
She might learn a thing or two from her friend in Bicol, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo. Leni is an exemplary public servant and a non-tradpol senatorial material with impeccable intelligence and wit. Just like her, she also aspires for a higher position but is circumspect enough to admit her lack of experience and preparation as a contender for VP. I hope Leni runs for senator and wins.
If ever Grace slides down as VP, just imagine the on-the-job-training she will obtain, and most of all, the goodwill of a dominant party and a vast campaign moolah she’ll inherit when her time comes.
Second, as a neophyte, she cannot politically mature relying on the undue influence of another Bicolano friend – a cunning tradpol who is known to have dumped and betrayed his friend in the last national election. Needless to say that, that friend lost and broke his heart.
Grace has to mature by herself and in her own terms. I know no one can dictate her on whom to befriend and trust as a political partner.
But her unqualified adulation and uncompromising reliance to a partnership with that “man from Bicol” troubles me and should set off alarm bells. I think in the INC crisis, she listened too much to his overbearing legalese and tradpol strategizing that she bungled their conniving response to it.
I truly believe that if she relied more on the gracious and just characters of her adoptive parents that she may have learned both both in life or film, she could have expressed herself with the ease of integrity and respect for the rule of law rather than dig herself out of the quagmire of the rule of the mob that she disingenuously continue to spin in public, just like Binay.
And to think as a kid, I used to get excited watching her father Fernando Poe, Jr. in movies defend the just cause of the “little scared guys” or beat up the “big bad guys” like Joseph Estrada, Paquito Diaz, or Max Alvarado with his signature rapid-like Pacquiao punch.
Sad to say, she seems to be learning more from the reputations of the tradpols than her noted adoptive parents. Kung buhay pa si Da King baka papagalitan pa s’ya for the INC screw-up. (If her father was still alive, he might've scolded her for the INC screw-up)
If Grace prefers the influence of the former, she is in danger to setting her self up for a dubious political legacy. And talking about a dubious legacy, there is a lesson to be learned from the troubled presidency of George Bush Jr. in tandem with Vice President Dick Cheney.
The good-natured and melancholic Dubya who takes a lot of ribbing for his mediocre grades at Yale University is the exact opposite of the shrewd and conniving Dick who usually has the last words of counsel to him on policies.
Setting up the White House for a stiff-necked neocon agenda together with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, he has been characterized as the most powerful and influential Vice President in American history to the extent that pundits called him Darth Vader. And he unapologetically embraced that image.
Unfortunately, in their last days in office, their relationship soured. Dubya simply ignored Dick and basically abandoned his counsel. But the damage had been done. It’s sad state to behold.
I understand that at the moment, Grace and Chiz are leading in the surveys as undeclared contenders for president and vice president respectively. The temptation to be swayed by this consideration is quite irresistible. However, the political campaign period is a like a seesaw. Sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down. Still, it is a long way until that day and survey results will change once the dust settles for the would-be presidents.
In the end there is no substitute for what is truly graceful, gracious, and patient – even in politics. Quo Vadis Grace?– Rappler.com
Efren Padilla is a full-time professor at California State University, East Bay. His areas of specialization are urban sociology, urban planning, and social demography. During his quarter breaks, he provides pro bono planning consultancy to selected LGUs in the Philippines.